Modern Farming

🌿 What if some of life's most valuable lessons happen outside the classroom? This week on the Modern Farming Podcast, we're joined by Bonnie Corsi from Barefoot Children Ranch in Floral City, Florida! 🐴🌱With a background in education, psychology, military service, and equine experiences, Bonnie is passionate about helping children learn through nature, animals, and hands-on activities. From gar...

🌱 What happens when agriculture, technology, and education come together? This week on the Modern Farming Podcast, we're joined by Moruf Popoola, an agricultural educator at Simmons Career Center in Hillsborough County, Florida! With a background spanning agribusiness, technology, and education, Moruf brings a unique perspective to preparing the next generation of agricultural leaders. 🚜📚 From...

This week on Modern Farming, we’re joined by Gretchen Hoke, seventh-generation Floridian, lifelong equestrian, and Executive Director of Rain Frog Ranch! 🌿🐎Gretchen shares her family’s journey from protecting their own agricultural property to advocating for Florida’s wildlife corridors and the future of our state’s working lands. We discuss the Florida Wildlife Corridor, the importance of priva...

What if building healthier ecosystems starts with understanding the human nervous system? 🌱 On this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Astrid, founder of Eden Center for Resurrection in Palatka, Florida, to explore the connection between agriculture, human well-being, and the environments we create. From nervous-system science and sensory exploration to regenerative cycles an...

From the Farm to Ag Sales w/ Repp Braun Caption What does it look like to build a career rooted in agriculture? 🌾 In this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Repp Braun, Tampa Territory Sales Manager for Purple Wave Auction, to hear how his life in agriculture shaped the path he is on today. Born and raised on a farm and ranch in western Kansas, Repp grew up surrounded by agri...

What happens when cutting-edge university research meets the real-world needs of farmers? 🌱🤖In this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Matt Donovan, CEO and co-founder of Agriculture Intelligence (AgIntel), to explore how artificial intelligence is helping growers better understand their crops, one tree at a time. Founded alongside Dr. Yiannis Ampatzidis at the University of...

Healthy crops start from the ground up. 🌱🌎 This week on the Modern Farming Podcast, we’re joined by Curt, Agronomy Solutions Lead at Tidal Grow AgriScience, to talk about one of the most important foundations of agriculture: soil health. With 10 years of hands-on agronomy experience in crop nutrition, crop protection, and soil health, Curt brings a boots-on-the-ground perspective to solving comp...

What happens when students get the chance to step outside the classroom and get their hands in the dirt? 🌱📚 This week on the Modern Farming Podcast, we’re joined by Cindy Morelli of Elfers Christian School to talk about her journey in education, her experience at ECS, and the school’s commitment to preparing students for the future. Cindy shares how Elfers Christian School has grown over the yea...

What happens when agriculture, sustainability, and community advocacy come together? 🌱🏙️This week on the Modern Farming Podcast, we’re joined by Lisa Pineda, an agriculture educator with more than 25 years of experience in permaculture, regenerative systems, and sustainable design. As President of the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Coalition, Lisa works to expand access to urban agriculture and pr...

What happens when agriculture becomes an experience? 🌾🌻 This week on the Modern Farming Podcast, we’re joined by Lena Juárez, Executive Director of the Florida Agritourism Association, to talk about the growing world of agritourism across Florida. From helping farmers add value to every acre to advocating for the future of the industry, Lena is working to connect visitors with Florida agricultur...

What if learning about insects, plants, and wildlife could feel like an adventure? 🌿📚 Meet Linda Smock , a Master Gardener Volunteer, educator, nature lover, and author who brings science to life through fun, engaging stories rooted in real-world science. A native Floridian and lifelong educator, Linda creates scientifically accurate books that inspire children to ask questions, explore STEM, an...

🎙️🌱 This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Jeffrey and Michael Drew, founders of Gemstone Academy! We’re talking about their journey in education, the importance of hands-on learning, and how creating meaningful opportunities for students can help prepare the next generation to lead, innovate, and make an impact. Tune in to hear their story, their vision for education, and what they’re buildin...

Where food, STEM, and education meet! 🧁🌱 This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Shelley Gupta, founder of BāKIT Box, to talk about how baking can become a hands-on way to explore STEM, culture, and food education. From her journey in music and business to creating baking kits inspired by flavors and traditions from around the world, Shelley shares how she turned her passion for learning into...

What can farming teach us about education? More than you might think. On this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast , we sit down with Bonnye McCoy, educator, curriculum developer, and co-founder of Get Classically Educated, to explore how the principles of classical education and agriculture share a common foundation: cultivating growth with purpose and patience. With more than 20 years of teachi...

The future of agriculture is bright—and it's being led by passionate young leaders like Lilly Owens-Hines. In this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast , Lilly shares how her involvement in FFA has shaped her leadership skills, fueled her passion for agriculture, and inspired her commitment to serving her community. As an active livestock exhibitor, chapter officer, and Green Jean Foundation inte...

What if the future of agriculture starts in a virtual classroom? On this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast , we welcome Dr. Kim Abel, Head of School at Optima Academy Online, the nation's first K–12 spatial computing charter school. Dr. Abel shares how immersive technology is transforming education and preparing students with the critical thinking, problem-solving, and STEM skills needed to ta...

What inspires the next generation of agricultural leaders? 🌱 In this episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, we're joined by Kiki Hubbard , Regional Director of Recruitment for the Kansas State University College of Agriculture and a proud member of Hubbard Cattle Company. Raised on her family's cattle operation, Kiki shares how her passion for agriculture and people shaped her journey from studen...

This week, we're bringing you a special episode from the Florida FFA State Convention! Guest host Maralee Thompson, Miss University of Florida, sat down with FFA members from across the state to hear firsthand about their leadership journeys, memorable FFA experiences, and the impact the organization has had on their lives. From developing confidence and communication skills to building lifelong f...

How does agriculture stay connected in a fast-changing world? It starts with the people dedicated to telling its story. In this episode, we sit down with Frank Giles , Editor-in-Chief at AgNet Media, to discuss his career in agricultural communications and the vital role trusted media plays in informing producers and connecting consumers to the industry. From row crops like cotton to specialty cro...

What if the future of education looks more like game night? In this episode of Modern Farming, we sit down with Joshua, a lifelong board game enthusiast whose passion for play led him to help transform the way students learn. From collecting hundreds of board games and coaching chess to helping build innovative educational platforms, Joshua has seen firsthand how gamification can spark curiosity,...

This week, we sit down with Francie Black, a technology entrepreneur, educator, and innovator with more than 20 years of experience spanning product training, project management, software development, and business development. From leading internet development initiatives for a Fortune 500 company to consulting for major corporations and emerging startups, Francie has spent her career helping orga...

This week, we sat down with Joanna Joseph of EVO Academy to discuss an exciting partnership with the Green Jean Foundation that is bringing agricultural education into the classroom. Joanna shares how EVO Academy is teaching students about the importance of agriculture, nutrition, and healthy living while helping young athletes understand the connection between what they eat and how they perform....

This week on Modern Farming , we sit down with Zack Farr , Founder and CEO of Biotech Applied Research (BAR), to discuss how innovation is transforming agricultural and environmental challenges into opportunities. As a third-generation citrus grower, Zack witnessed firsthand the struggles facing Florida agriculture and set out to create practical solutions. Through BAR, he is pioneering the use of...

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Sonya Lee, president of Ag-Tronix, to talk about her work in agriculture and the new age of irrigation technology. From precision water management to fully automated irrigation systems, Sonya shares how innovation is transforming the agriculture industry and helping farmers use resources more efficiently. Tune in for an insightful conversation about sustai...

What happens when mental health support looks less like a clinic and more like a thriving community? In this powerful episode of the Modern Farming Podcast, we sit down with Elizabeth Statzer, Director of Vincent House Pasco, to explore a unique and deeply impactful approach to mental health recovery through the internationally recognized Clubhouse Model. For more than 23 years, Vincent House Pasc...